Wicked Husband-Chapter 99 - 98

It was an irresistible force. The calm and composed conversation Eileen had initially planned was now as distant as the farthest reaches of the continent.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stem the tide of her tears. A surge of complex emotions overwhelmed her. She had barely gathered the courage to ask Cesare a question, but standing before him, fear seized her.

This was the door she had once knocked on until her hands were sore, only for it to remain shut. She feared he might ignore her, dismissing her questions as impertinent.

But the door had opened. Cesare’s first concern was for her well-being. The tenderness in his voice as he asked if she had been crying was almost more than she could bear.

As she sniffled, overcome with emotion, Cesare gently pulled her into his arms. He held her close, tilting her chin so she couldn’t hide her face, and looked at her with quiet concern.

Her eyes were already red and swollen from crying in front of Senon. If she continued, her face would become even more of a mess. But Cesare’s softly spoken words only caused her tears to flow even more freely.

"Who would dare upset my wife?"

As her tears spilled over like a faucet turned on full blast, Cesare took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from her flushed cheeks. He spoke again, his voice tender.

"Why don’t you tell your husband?"

Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Eileen whimpered softly.

"It was you, Cesare..."

Though she quickly composed herself before finishing the sentence, the fragment of her words was enough for Cesare to understand the situation. A cold light flickered in his eyes for a moment. After a brief silence, he spoke.

"Is it because of Lucio Zaetani?"

Eileen shook her head. Lucio wasn’t the root cause of her distress.

"It’s better if we talk inside."

Cesare effortlessly lifted Eileen into his arms. Light as a feather, he carried her inside and then gestured to Senon with a nod.

Senon, who had looked utterly miserable, saluted sharply before moving toward the soldiers stationed around the house. As Senon began speaking to them, Cesare took Eileen inside.

It was a space Eileen hadn’t anticipated entering. As she continued to dab at her tears with Cesare’s handkerchief, she took in the surroundings.

The small house, situated on the edge of a forest, was quite modest for the residence of the Grand Duke of Erzet.

The interior was nearly bare. There were no large pieces of furniture, such as a bed—only a wide table, a few chairs, a large chest of drawers, and several boxes, giving it the appearance of a place used only when necessary. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

It resembled a hunting lodge, with various firearms mounted on the walls.

’Did Cesare ever enjoy hunting?’

Cesare seldom spoke about his personal interests. Yet, having known him for so long, Eileen was somewhat familiar with his likes and dislikes.

Occasionally, Cesare would mention aspects of his daily life, and when hunting came up, it was usually in the context of invitations from his brother Leon or other nobles. In over a decade of knowing him, Eileen had never heard Cesare express any personal desire to go hunting.

Even the gossip magazines that pried into every detail of Cesare’s life never mentioned him pursuing hunting for pleasure.

Curiosity piqued, Eileen glanced at the open back door. Unusually, it led directly into the forest. Most homes would have at least a small garden or open space at the rear, but here, the forest began immediately.

It seemed Cesare had been in the woods just before she arrived. Eileen looked at the dark forest extending beyond the open door.

The vast expanse of trees was dense, their thick foliage blocking out the sunlight and casting a shadowy gloom despite it being midday.

The shadowy expanse sent a faint chill down her spine. Though she knew Cesare would protect her from any potential danger, an inexplicable fear crept over her.

A breeze from the forest carried a faint, unsettling scent of blood, though it might have been her imagination. At that moment, her primal fear even momentarily distracted her from her tears.

"It’s a place I sometimes use for hunting," Cesare said, offering a faint smile.

"It must be your first time seeing the inside."

He remembered the events before he left for the front and understood Eileen’s confusion. Eileen wanted to ask why he hadn’t opened the door back then, but she knew now was not the time for such questions.

As Eileen explored the interior, she realized her tears had stopped without her even noticing. With her cheeks still flushed from crying, she spoke.

"Please put me down now..."

Despite having already entered the house, Cesare still hadn’t set her down and didn’t seem inclined to do so. Eileen was determined to have a serious conversation, and she knew she couldn’t do so properly while being held like this. Firmly, she repeated her request.

"Please put me down. I’m asking you, Cesare."

Her resolute tone made Cesare raise an eyebrow. Without a word, he gently set her down and moved to close the open door.

With the wind from the forest no longer blowing in, Eileen felt her tension begin to ease. Cesare pulled up a chair for her to sit in, and after seating her, he brought another chair for himself, positioning it close in front of her.

Although both chairs were the same type, the one Cesare occupied looked slightly uncomfortable for him, given his tall frame, while it appeared spacious for Eileen. He sat with his legs slightly spread and arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her. As Eileen struggled to find the right words, Cesare spoke first.

"Your senior is still alive, Eileen."

"..."

"If you want, I can keep him alive a little longer."

His tone was almost condescending, like someone offering a sulking child a piece of candy. It became clear to Eileen that Cesare still didn’t understand what she truly wanted.

Accepting his offer would likely soften the atmosphere quickly. She wouldn’t have to worry about Cesare’s anger or push him further.

But if she accepted his offer, their relationship would remain unchanged. Eileen would continue living under his protection, perpetually fearing the day she might be cast aside.

"...Cesare," she said, finally mustering the courage to speak. Avoiding the urge to look away from his piercing red gaze, she cautiously asked, "Do you still... see me as just a child?"

It was a question Cesare hadn’t expected. He tilted his head slightly, studying her face as if trying to decipher her thoughts. After a moment, he replied in a calm, measured voice.

"If I did, I wouldn’t have undressed you."

Eileen’s face flushed, and she clenched her hands tightly in her lap. Struggling to push past her embarrassment, she tried to continue.

"I didn’t come here to ask you to spare my senior."

Cesare listened patiently, not pressing her or demanding an explanation. In the silence that followed, Eileen gathered the scattered fragments of her courage.

"This... this situation happened so suddenly. One day I woke up, and everything was different. Then there was the article in the newspaper..."

Her nervousness made her words come out in a jumble, but she hoped Cesare would understand her intentions. He always had before. She expressed her deepest desire.

"You’ve made me the Grand Duchess, Cesare, and I want to do my best. Not just as someone who’s protected without understanding anything..."

"I know," Cesare interrupted her, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of coldness.

Eileen flinched at his sudden response.

"You’ve always done your best, even willing to risk your life for my honor."

Though his tone remained calm, his gaze was shadowed by a darkness as deep and impenetrable as the forest beyond the door. His usually clear red eyes were now clouded with something unfathomable.

"That’s exactly why, Eileen," he said softly, "I don’t want to tell you anything."

Then, with a tone that brooked no argument, he issued a command.

"Promise me you won’t die for my sake. Then I’ll tell you whatever you want to know."

His voice, cold and deep like the dark forest, wrapped around her.

"Anything you desire."